Disappearing water ballet device



June 1934- M. WARFIELD El AL DISAPPEARING WATER BALLET DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORJ Vivi/fa %az/r&/ (e/d 4 BY Mamie/k Z iflmg'/af c aydfiwz 9* my ATTORNEY5.

June 1934 M. WARFIELD ET AL 1,953,315

DISAPPEARING WATER BALLET DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 {i ll I I l- II 9 m I N i N vm m \F ATTORNEY6.

June 1934s 1.. M. WARFIELD ET AL 1,963,815

DISAPPEARING WATER BALLET DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H a" a :1: C I 9 l2 \J 23 INVENTZ 07722: aye far/rfi 4 Ken/167% ,3. war/ 67d ag/f 9* gay ATTORNEY6.

Patented June 19, 1934 PATIENT DISAPPEARING WATER. BALLET DEVICE Lottie Mayer Warfield and Kenneth B. Warfield,

Artesia, Calif. Application December 19, 1933, SerialNo. 703,098

I Claims. (01. 272-26) This invention relates as indicated to a device especially adapted for use in conjunction with a disappearing water ballet performance and more v especially to means whereby the performers may 1 be made to disappear below the surface of the water in a tank and made to reappear after having effected a change in costume or the like.

More specifically, this invention relates to apparatus whereby performers may disappear below the Water level in a tank, remain out of sight for an appreciable length of time, i. e., longer than a normal person could stay under water, and then reappear either with their original or changed v costume.

It is among the objects of our invention to pro vide a device for the accomplishment of the above-named ends by the employment of means characterized by simplicity of construction and manipulation. V b

It is another object of our invention to provide a device of theabove described character which may be employed to accomplish the desired results with a minimum of hazard to the performers.

Other objects of our invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention/then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

'The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: j Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line 33; Fig. 4 is a sectional'view similar to Fig. 3, but showing only a portion-of Fig. 3 drawn to .an enlarged scale and illustrating in dotted lines a second position i of the lower portion of the inclined stairway; Fig. A 5 is a fragmentary elevational View of a portion of the means employed for the purpose of adjustably supporting or collapsing the lower section of the inclined stairway. illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the tank'illustratedin Figs. 1 and- 2,

on the fioor of extend to the edge of the tank 1,"

showing more 7 the partition which extends across the tank.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and more especially to Figs. 1 and 2,"the apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention consists of a substantially cylindrical water-filled'tank, generally indicated at 1. This tank may be constructed in any suitable fashion so as tohold water-which normally rises to the line indicated at 2 in Fig. 2. The tank 1 may be conveniently constructed from a cylin-' drical shell open at both ends which is; placed a room or stage and then a canvas or other flexible water-tight liner having a closed bottom is placed within the shell and lat erally confined thereby. This construction is characterized particularly by being portablev which is one of the principal advantages of a'p paratus of this charatcer. Y Suitably vertically disposed ladders, generally indicated at 3, may be supported within the tank 1 OFFICE i f particularly the arrangement 4 of wherebyperfo'rmers 'may rise out of the tank,

should the occasion demand. v

Supported by the vertically extending braces; generally indicated at 4, in Fig. 2, or by an other suitable m'eans, are a plurality ofplatforms 5 and 6 and runways 7 which are arranged about the tank 1 to support the performers at the various elevations, most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Small platforms 8 may be provided adjacent the ladders3 and preferably level with the top of the tank whereby performers emerging from the tank 1 by means of the ladder 3 may pass to theplatforms 5 by means of stairs 9. Supported adja-' cent the platforms 5 are spring diving boards 10 which are supported in "the usual manner an whereby performers'may dive into the tank. g 7 Suitable overhead means (not shown) such as ers giving a demonstration above the tank and I diving from such trapeze into the tank.

As previously indicated, the principal objectof this invention is to provide means whereby per-j; formers may pass below the surface of the water in the tank and appa'rently'disappea'r for any desired length of time so that the performers may apparently stay below the level of the water for periods of time longer than that which anordinary person'mightstay submerged. The apparatus also makes possible the changing or altering of costumes by the performers whereby the illusion of havingchanged costumes under wa--" ter may be produced. The apparatus presently.

to be described for accomplishing these 'endsis' trapeze apparatus may be provided for perform- 9.)

preferably positioned entirely within and above the tank 1.-

As most clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, we

provide an inclinedstairway, generally indicated 5 at 11, which consists of an upper fixed section 12 and a lower movable section 13. The two sections 12 and 13 meet at approximately the water line 2 in the tank 1. The section 12 is rigidly supported by suitablemeans such as standards 14 and 15, the former, for convenience, being outside the tank and the latter being in the tank. As above indicated, it is within the contemplation of our invention, however, to position the support 14 within or upon the tank, should this be desirable.

The lower section 13 is, at its upper end, pivotally secured to the upper section 12 by some suitable means such as a hinge. illustrated in Fig. 4. The lower end of the section 13 has a leg 17 pivotally secured thereto, which when the parts are in the position illustrated in full lines in Figs. 3 and 4, supports the lower end of the section 13 at a position above the bottom of the tank 1. The section13, as illus- '3 tratedin Fig. 3, terminates above the bottom of the tank for a distance sufficient to permit such section to move arcuately into the dotted line poare in the position 4, the stair section 13 line position illustra-tedin such figure by merely. pulling on the rope or cable 20, carried to an operators station, generally indicated at 21, underneath When the rope 20 is pulled upwardly, the link 19 j is first moved about the axis of the hinge 22in a counterclockwise direction, whereupon the link 18 will move about the axis of the hinge-23 in a;

clockwise direction with respectto such hinge; At the same time, clockwise direction about the axis of thehinge 24 which interconnects such link and the leg '17. This movement of the links a clockwise. rotation of the leg 17 about. the axis of the hinge 25- which connects such leg to the lower end of the stair section 13. A continued movement of the rope or cable 20 will, therefor-3,;

ultimately move the stair section 13 and theleg 1'7 and links 18 and 19 into the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 4.

.Extending laterally from substantially. chordwiseof the tank 1 are partitions or bafile members 26 and 27. These baffle members include fixed sections 28 which extend for a distance of approximately one foot below "the water level in the tank, as most clearly'illustrated in Fig. 6.- To the upper edge of the fixed sections 28 are hingedly secured plates 29, which with the sections 28, constitute the partitions 26 and 27. Tothe forward faces of the plates 28 are attached mirrors 30. Any suitable means (not of supportingthe plates 29 and their associated mirrors 30 in any selected angular relation with respect to. the fixed members 28 andthe surface -;of the water in the tank.

16, most clearly which rope is, for convenience,

a fixed stair section V 12.

the link,18 will move in a 18 and 19 will effect the staircase 12 and shown) may be employed for'the purpose Positioned within the tank behind the partitions 26 and 27 are platforms 31 which provide a means of support for the performers at a level above the bottom of the tank. It may be noted at this point that for convenience, the depth of the tank may be approximately six feet; the depth of the water approximately five feet; and the platform 31 approximately one foot above the bottom of the tank. This results in there being about four feet of water over the platform 31 which permits a performer of normal height to stand on the platform 31 with his head above the level of the water.

The operation and-mode of use of the above scribed.

' The performers will 'move into the pool either by diving from the springboards 10 or by walking down the inclined stairs 11. If the performers dive from the boards 10, the lower stair section 13 will be moved back intothe dotted line position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so that they will not strike. the stairs when diving. p H

. If the performers move. into the tank bywalking downthe stairs 11, then, the lower stairsection 13 will ,be in the full line position as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

After the performers have moved into the tank in either of the above defined manners, theywill then submerge and swim'to the rear of the tank under the partitions 26 and .27. After. passing under the partitions, the performers will ..move onto the platform 31, which is at such a height that the performers may stand thereon with their heads above the level of .the water. While in this position, the performers may effect a change of costume, if desired, or merely hesitate for a pre-. determined length of time" before again swimming forward under the partitions 26 and 27 to appear above the surface of the water in thatportionof, the tank which is exposed to the view; of e the audience. The performers may then rise out of the tank by means of the ladders 3 to repeat the disappearing act as many times as desired.

Should the tank 1 be supported at approximately the level of the audience, such audience may View the water within the tank by meansangle in order that this may be possible. The adjustabilityof thev mirrors with respect to the water level in the tank enables the apparatus-to be set up for use regardless of any practical rela-- tionship of the audience with respect to the tank.

S; ho.uld the performers desire to change costumes whilestanding onthe platform 31, suit.. ableracks maybe provided atutherear of the tank within reach of the performers or an assistant whereby a plurality of costumes may be sup.- ported.

Should it be desired to have the performers disappear under the surface of the water in the forward portion of the tank without reappearingin the manner above explained, ladders may be provided adjacent the platforms 31 whereby the performers may leave the tank; v 1

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change beingmade as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following'claims or the equiv-' alent of such stated means be employed. We therefore-particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention: Y

1.";In a device of the character described, the

combination of a water filled tank and a partition extending transversely of said tank, said partition arranged with its lower edge below the water level in the tank and its upper edge a substantial distance above such water level.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a water filled tank, a partition extending transversely of said tank, said partition arranged with its lower edge below the water level in said tank and its upper edge a substantial distance above such water level, and a mirror supported in a substantially vertical position adjacent one side of said partition.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a water filled tank, a partition extending transversely of said tank, said partition arranged with its lower edge below the water level in said tank and its upper edge a substantial distance above such water level, and an inclined stairway comprising two relatively movable sections associated with said partition and extending adjacent the bottom of said tank, the lower section of said stairway lying below the water level in said tank being movably supported whereby such lower section may be moved to a position adjacent the lower edge of said partition.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a water filled tank, a partition extending transversely of said tank, said partition arranged with its lower edge below the water level in said tank and its upper edge a substantial distance above such water level, and an inclined stairway associated with said partition and extending adjacent the bottom of said tank, the lower section of said stairway lying below the water level in said tank being pivotally connected to that portion extending above the water level.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a water filled tank, a partition extending transversely of said tank, said particombination of a water filled cylindrical tank; 7

tion arranged with its lower edge below the water level in said tank and its upper edge a substantial distance above such water level, an inclined stairway associated with said partition and extending adjacent the bottom of said tank, the lower section of said stairway lying below the water level in said tank being pivotally connected to that portion extending above the water level, and means for supporting said lower stair section in alignment with the upper stair section.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a water filled tank, a partition extending transversely of said tank, said partition arranged with its lower edge below the water level in said tank and its upper edge a substan tial distance above such water level, an inclined stairway associated with said partition and extending adjacent the bottom of said tank, the lower section of said stairway lying belowthe Water level in said tank being pivotally connected to that portion extending above the water level, and a mirror supported in a substantially vertical position adjacent one side of said partition.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a water filled tank, a partition extending transversely of said tank, said partition arranged with its lower edge below the water level in said tank and its upper edge a substan tial distance above such water level, a platform in said tank on one side or" said partition and at a substantial distance above the floor of the tank.

8. In a device or the character described, the combination of a water filled tank, a partition extending transversely of said tank, said partition arranged with its lower edge below the water level in said tank and itsv upper edge a substantial distance above such water level, a platform said tank on one side of said partition and at a substantial distance above the floor of the tank, anda rror supported in a substantially vertical position adjacent one side of said partition.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a water filled tank, a partition extending transversely of said tank, said partition arranged with its lower edge below the water level in said tank and its upper edge a sub stantial distance above such water level, a platform in said on one side of said partition and at a substantial distance above the floor of the tank, an inclined stairway associated with said partition and extending adjacent the bottern of said tank, the lower section of said stairway lying below the water level, in said tank being pivotally connected to'that portion extending above the water level, and means for supporting said lower stair section in alignment with the upper stair section.

1G. In a device of the character described, the

an inclined stairway extending into said tank, the lower section of such stairway. being pivotally connected to the upper section whereby such lower section may be selectively moved to either a substantially vertical position or into alignment with the upper section; means for supporting said lower ection in said last-named position; vertical partition members extending from said stairway laterally and substantially chord-wise of said tank, said partitions extending for only a short distance below the water level in said tank and for an appreciable distance above said water level; a platform in said tank above the bottom thereof and on one side only of said partitions, and mirrors supported in a substantially vertical position adjacent said partitions on the side opposite said platform.

LOTTIE WARFIELD. KENNETH B. WARFIELD. 

